Gianni Infantino has confirmed that FIFA will examine a proposal to expand the World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 centenary edition.
The FIFA President told Swiss outlet Bluewin that the idea will be discussed in relevant committees after the 2026 tournament concludes.
A 64‑team format would feature 16 groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to a straight knockout Round of 32. The tournament would expand to 128 matches, up from 104 in 2026. The proposal was first raised by Uruguayan Football Federation President Ignacio Alonso in March 2025.
Infantino argued the competition must be accessible beyond traditional football powers. “The World Cup is for the whole world, not just Europe and South America. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup,” he said.
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He also defended the current 48‑team expansion, which he called a “huge success”. He cited Africa’s record‑breaking performance in the 2026 tournament: nine out of ten African nations reached the knockout stage. “At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That shows how important it is to include all teams.”
The proposal has drawn fierce opposition. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin called it a “bad idea” and warned it could reduce the quality of both the World Cup and European qualifying. CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani described it as “not a great idea”. Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz also argued further expansion would devalue the qualification process.
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The 2030 tournament is already set to be staged across six nations and three continents. Spain, Portugal and Morocco are the primary hosts, while Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will each stage opening matches to mark the centenary.
Supporters of a 64‑team format argue it would allow the three South American nations to host entire groups rather than single matches. Any expansion would require FIFA Council approval.
Infantino confirmed the proposal will be formally examined after the 2026 World Cup.
